CHAPTER 9A: BIRTHDAY SURPRISES
SANJEEVANI
RECEPTION DESK
After being squeezed by a series of hugs and birthday wishes from his fellow interns, including Anjali to Atul's shock. They all assembled themselves in front of the reception desk; Dr Kirti assigned them their duties, when she gave Atul his duty she added
"Happy birthday Dr Joshi, but that does not mean that you will be excused or will be given any special treatment by any staff members" she said looking at all of the interns and finally laying her gaze at Atul.
"Arrey Atul! Happy birthday!" Shubankhar said walking towards the interns oblivious to the fact that Kirti was standing just there. All the interns were signalling to him that Kirti was standing behind him. But silly Shubankhar didn't understand them.
"Kuch plan hain kya tumhaare birthday ki? Koi birthday party?" Shubs asked Atul nudging him slightly. Dr Kirti coughed. Dr Shubankhar realised who it was, and he turned around in slow motion. Immediatley he started to sweat
"Woh…er Kirti woh main Atul say keh raha tha…ke er, no parties and erm…duties comes first" Shubs said stuttering and looking down at the floor.
Ray was looking at his favourite doctor and thinking Shubankhar sir ki tau waat lag gayee, bechaare shubs sir…har rauz uss Hitler kau sehna padta hai…
Keerti gave a piercing gaze to Shubhankar and then the interns and said in her Hitler voice "What are you all still doing here? Don't you have your duties to attend to?" Although she only meant that for the interns, even Shubhankar got scared and scattered from here to there and ran away with them.
Kirti was standing there fuming and said "Just watch what I do to you at home, aaj tau tumhari khair nahin"
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CORRIDOOR (walking towards Burns unit)
Ray and Aaliyah were on their way to their duty, as usual Aaliyah was in a foul mood due to none other than Ray. He had been annoying her since yesterday, calling her Bakri, making weird faces or asking her to do 'Meh meh meh'. Aaliyah was going to kill that Bandar of hers when she came down, but before that she had a bigger problem in her hand. Today Ray had gone a step too far and had been consistently chanting a nursery rhyme changing a few words here and there.
(Recite in 'Baba black sheep' tune)
Baba Bakri have u any brain,
No sir, No sir coz she is insane,
One, she's pagal
Two, she's lame
Three, she's a bakri who doesn't have a name
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PAEDIATRIC WARD
Armaan was assisting Dr Padma today with Minnie's case for the morning session, whereas Ridz was assisting Dr Shweta with a surgery.
Armaan was told by Dr Padma to get all the tests done, so they could make a report to decide what further steps they would be taking. Ever since Armaan has started handling her case, Minnie and him had become cartoon buddies. Always discussing and watching cartoons, when he was meant to be on duty. Armaan had become Minnie's favourite doctor, and vice versa.
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CANTEEN (Break time)
"Come on Atul all you have to do is look sober" Anjie said looking at a paper, which looked like a script.
"Anjali" Atul moaned "I can't do sober" he frowned looking at the script.
They were both talking to each other calmly and patiently, which surprised the canteen walle bhaiya, he was usually used to hearing them argue and quarrel. For the first time in history, there was a calm silence in the canteen whilst Atul and Anjali were both present. They were discussing profusely when Dr Kirti approached them.
"I'm not on break for long, but how are the rehearsals going? How are they getting along?" she asked taking a seat.
"Well, I think the rehearsals are going well, we're not getting any complaints from Armaan and Riddhima or Sapna and Sameer" Atul said taking a sip from his coffee "Aaliyah and Ray on the other hand are a different story"
Dr Kirti on the other hand looked thoroughly annoyed.
"But they're getting along fine" Anjali said quickly before Kirti would go into Hitler mode.
"They better be working well, because the event is next week. I don't want any mistakes" She said getting up from her chair to leave
"Sorry ma'am I just wanted to ask how your rehearsals are going." Atul asked as she got up. Kirti turned around she was a bit reluctant to say anything because Shubhankar was really annoying her.
"Dr Atul you take care of your own self, and ill take care of my business" saying that she left a scared Atul behind.
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SIERRA TOWERS
ATUL'S B-DAY GET TOGETHER
"Wow! Your flats so clean! I thought it would be like a pigsty" Ray said looking around the lounge.
"Yeah Bhaiyu keeps it clean. Otherwise it would have been a pit" Armaan said jumping on a bean bag seat. Ray sat down next to Atul on the sofa. Aaliyah sat next to Anjali on the other sofa, they both made sure it was as far away as possible from Ray and Atul. Riddhima sat on the bean bag next to Armaan, which he had pulled out for her.
"Yeh Sapna di kaha reh gayee?" Ray asked looking at his watch.
"Sapna Sameer ke saath ane wali thi" Anjali said looking up from a magazine she was looking at.
"Ohhhh, no wonder she's late!" Aaliyah said cheekily
"Eh!! Meri behen ke baare mein airee gairee baate mat kar!" Ray said giving her evil looks.
"Oh guys please don't start here" Atul said whilst Armaan went to put a CD into the music player.
"Hey isn't that Atif's new album?" Aaliyah asked as the song started playing.
Atif Aslam: Meri Kahani
You tube link;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh-AgS7PKdM&feature=relat ed
Aao le ke chaloon tumko,
Bachpan ki un galiyon mein…
Jaha rang hai,
Yaar hai,
Fursat hai,
Shayad kahi isme…
Tumko tum milo.
Chalo kahoon tumse mein…
Meri kahani!!!
Jhola Jhulaye Yeh Panghat
Nadiya Kinare Yeh Aangan
Neendiya To Aana Hawa Ke Sang
Mujhko Bhi Tu Dikhana Apne Rang
Suno Mere Dil Jani Yeh Kahani Mani
Ek Din Mere Sang Yeh Jahan Tha
Mera Kuch Or Tera Hi Arman
Jane Dil Main Kya Kuch Yeh Basa Tha
Yeh Meri Hai Kahani
Yeh Meri Kahani
Armaan and Atul reminisced the times when their dad used to push them on the swings and how their mum used to shower them with love when they were kids.
Jhola Jhulaye Yeh Panghat
Nadiya Kinare Yeh Aangan
Neendiya To Aana Hawa Ke Sang
Mujhko Bhi Tu Dikhana Apne Rang
Tera Mera Galiyoon Main Yun Phirna
Phirte Phirte Raat Ko Yun Thakna
Thak Ke Nani Ki Godi Main Sona
Pariyoon Ke Desh Ja Ke Nahaana
Yeh Meri Hai Kahani
Yeh Meri Kahani
Ray remembered the childhood times when his Nani used to put him to sleep in her lap and Ali remembered the times when her dad used to read her fairy stories.
Koi Fikar Thi Na Koi Bahana
Muthi Main Tha Jaise Yeh Zamana
Kacchi Zuban Main Wo Geet Gana
Naye Khilone Sab Ko Dikhana
Man Liya Zindagi Se Zyda
Chin Gaya Woh Jisne Kya Wada
Kaun Laye Woh Pal Jo Suhane
Beete The Jo Woh Guzre Zamane
Yeh Meri Hai Kahani
Yeh Meri Kahaniiiiiiiiiii
Anjali and Ridz recalled their times, when they played with their toys, their college memories, those carefree times in Delhi.
As the song embraced the room, and reached their ears…they all remembered their past, their childhood which has been lost somewhere in their animated world of adulthood. Each of them reflected upon their memories. All the good times in their past, brightening their present.
As the song played its last verse, Ray as usual, decided to break the ice
"Arrey yaar, kitna senti song lagaya, mujhe mere bachpan ki yaad aagayi, not that I am old… Main salaun baras ki…" He said singing the last part. "Tu satra baras ka" He sang looking at Aaliyah.
"Do I look like a guy?" Aaliyah said throwing a pillow at him which missed, and hit Atul instead. Just then the door bell rang; Atul got up to get the door, as Ray started chanting the nursery rhyme again. Whilst Armaan decided to go to the kitchen to get the snacks, Riddhima joined him.
Atul opened the door to be greeted by Sapna and Sameer.
"Hey guys"
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KITCHEN
"Yo basket! Can you pass me the glasses from that cupboard there" Armaan asked Ridz pointing to a high cabinet. She opened the cabinet whilst Armaan was opening up the cake box. Riddhima was trying to reach the glasses but her hands fell short. She tried to tiptoe, to no avail. Armaan was about to ask her what was taking so long with the glasses, when he saw her tiptoeing. He smiled and looked at her carefully for the first time today. She was wearing a knee length black skirt with a sleeveless grey top.
She looks so cute and innocent, her soft facial features, so delicate. Her eyes say nothing, yet speak so much.
Armaan went up behind her really close and reached up to the cupboard. Riddhima froze the moment Armaan's hand brushed hers, whilst subconsciously his other hand held Ridz's waist. She shuddered at his touch, and stood there not knowing what to do or say as he took out all the glasses.
Armaan's hand was still on her waist, as soon as he had gotten all of the glasses down. He pulled her closer to him, she whispered "Armaan"
"Sssshhhhh" He said placing a finger on her lips, he slowly moved her hair back and whispered in her ear
"Aaj tum bohut khoobsurat lag rahee hau"
She felt his leg brush against hers, as he was just millimetres behind her. Then all of a sudden he let go, embarrassed with what he had done. He took a step back and looked down out of shame
"Er…I'm sorry"
Riddhima also looked down due to the awkwardness and said softly
"Buddhu kitni baar baulu…dosti mein no sorry, no thank you"
Armaan laughed slightly and walked back to the counter.
"You get the plates" Armaan said "and I'll get the cake"
"Okay" Riddhima said grabbing the plates and walking out the kitchen first.
"What was I thinking?" Armaan muttered to himself as he picked up the cake "She only thinks of you as a friend!"
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"Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday Dear Atul
Happy birthday to you!"
They all sang as Atul blew the candles off his chocolate cake. He cut his cake and fed the first slice to Armaan, who stuffed a slice of cake in Atul's mouth.
Atul then grabbed another piece of cake, and fed the person on his left, without realising that it was Anjali. She took a bite of that piece and fed the rest of it to him. For the first time, a new emotion aroused within both of them, something that neither had the ability to recognise… yet.
Atul fed them all pieces of cake, after which Anjie handed him a big card from them all, he opened it immediately, the card was filled with writing all over.
He laughed as he read all the comments; Ray as usual had written his faltu jokes and bakwas, Aaliyah being herself had written a very motherly note, which had been indecently made fun of by Ray. Sapna had written her message in Gujju, with a translation so that Atul could understand Gujarati. Sameer on the other hand had written a sweet yet simple message. Anjali being her practical self had written a straight forward message with a threat in it. Ridz had written a soppy sweet note with a little poem in it, and Armaan being his naughty self had written a very childlike note.
After he finished reading, Anjie handed him the gift bag on behalf of all of them, which had a Swiss watch, he took it out and wore it and thanked everyone by giving them all a hug.
As they all sat watching TV, consuming some light snacks, Sapna looked thoroughly bored and said
"Guys this is so boring… lets do something fun"
Ray like usual sucked up and agreed with his Di.
"Why don't we all play 21 dares?" Aaliyah said looking away from the TV.
Sameer who had been unusually quiet spoke up "What is that?"
Aaliyah explained the game as they all made themselves comfortable on the floor, in which they all had to recite numbers, and the maximum numbers they were allowed to say at once were four, after which it was the turn of the next person. Whoever said no 21 had to do a dare. She gave an example to make it clear, she said 1,2,3,4 after which Atul said 5, 6 then Sameer said 7, etc etc until it reached 21, and the person who said 21, had to do the dare. Unluckily for Sameer, number 21 landed on him first.
Hey Guys,
Sorry, this is another chapter that has been split into two parts...lol i got carried away. The other half of this chapter is more fun...i promise😃 Please do leave a comment... bad or good!!!
Thanks
Luv
Nainu
xxx
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